Reversible Severe Dysphagia Presenting in Wernicke's Encephalopathy: A case report.
- Author:
Eun Seok CHOI
1
;
Sung Kyun MOK
;
Ye Rim CHO
;
Ji Hye MIN
;
Young Mook PARK
;
Yun Hee KIM
;
Zee A HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea. zeeahan@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Wernicke's encephalopathy;
Dysphagia;
Thiamine deficiency
- MeSH:
Ataxia;
Deglutition Disorders;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Parents;
Thiamine;
Thiamine Deficiency;
Wernicke Encephalopathy
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2008;32(4):460-464
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Wernicke's encephalopathy is a relatively underestimated disorder caused by a deficiency of thiamine and manifests with a classical triad of ocular abnormalities, ataxia, and mental-status changes. Specific laboratory tests are unavailable and the disease remains a clinical diagnosis. Among paraclinical studies, magnetic resonance imaging is currently considered the most valuable method to confirm a diagnosis of Wernicke's encephalopathy. Treatment is based on supplementation of thiamine that is administered parentally. We report a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy that was treated with thiamine and showed the characteristic clinical findings, as well as an extremely rare symptom of severe dysphagia that improved concurrently with neurological recovery. Only a few cases of dysphagia in Wernicke's encephalopathy have been reported worldwide.
